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ASME B133.11-1982 — Gas Turbine Preparation for Shipping and Installation
📦 ASME B133.11-1982 is a part of the ASME B133 series of gas turbine procurement standards. It focuses specifically on the complete logistics chain of a gas turbine package: preservation at the factory, boxing and closures, the shipping envelope, transportation, receiving inspection, unloading and storage, depreserving, installation, prestart checks, initial startup, and the punch list. Rather than being a mandatory technical regulation, the Standard is intended to provide the user with a review of items that should be considered when preparing procurement specifications. Because manufacturers legitimately use a variety of methods to achieve the same installation and startup results, the user is advised to consult the manufacturer on the use and interpretation of the Standard and to embed the agreed requirements in the more detailed site specifications.
💡 The value of B133.11 is preventive specification: corrosion in transit, improper site handling, and startup damage are addressed through contract clauses up front, rather than remedied after the equipment arrives.
1. Scope and General Framework 📌
The Standard comprises twelve sections: Scope; Preservation; Boxing; Closures; Shipping Envelope; Transportation; Receiving Inspection, Unloading, and Storage; Depreserving; Installation; Prestart Checks; Initial Startup; and Punch List. It applies to open-cycle, closed-cycle, and semi-closed-cycle gas turbines with conventional combustion systems for industrial, marine, and electric power applications, together with the auxiliaries needed for proper operation. Gas turbines applied to earth-moving machines, agricultural and industrial tractors, automobiles, trucks, buses, and aero-propulsion units are excluded. For turbines using unconventional heat sources such as chemical processes, nuclear reactors, or furnaces for supercharged boilers, the B133 standards may be used as a basis with appropriate modifications.
⚠️ The Standard is a general framework of minimum requirements. Users may add, delete, or modify clauses in their own procurement specification, but any deviation should be agreed with the manufacturer during pre-bid clarification to avoid disputes at the receiving end.
2. Preservation Requirements 🔧
Preservation is the first line of defense against corrosion, moisture ingress, and degradation during storage and transit. The Standard sets preservation duration by shipment class as shown below:
| Shipment Class | Required Preservation Duration | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic shipments | ≥ 3 months (outdoor storage plus transit time) | Planned inspection, renewal, or replacement of preservation materials is not precluded |
| Export shipments | ≥ 1 year (storage plus transit time) | Air-transportable items may meet the domestic 3-month minimum |
| Extended preplanned storage | Beyond 1 year, or as agreed | Requires special preservative selection, inspection, and renewal planning |
Three types of preservative treatment are recognized. Direct application types are applied to metal surfaces, principally machined surfaces, such as paints, greases, sprays, and cocooning; they must be selected for the climate and duration of the planned shipment class, and treated surfaces must be protected from abrasion or accidental impact. Area treatment types address large enclosed spaces, such as vapor phase inhibitors, chemical or mechanical moisture controllers, and gases; they must not damage the equipment during prolonged exposure, and visual indicators should be provided to verify adequacy. Additive types are added to fluids for shipment and storage, such as corrosion inhibitors, anti-freeze, or oils, and require clear placards on the packaging.
🚨 Much turbine corrosion occurs inside “sealed” packaging: desiccant saturates and loses drying capacity, or vapor phase inhibitor is depleted without replacement. Scheduled inspection, indicators, and a renewal mechanism are often more critical than the preservative itself.
3. Boxing, Closures, and the Shipping Envelope 📦
The sections on boxing and closures require that crates and cases withstand the expected stacking, lifting, and vibration loads; that openings such as flanges, pipe connections, and bearing housings be closed with moisture-proof covers or closures to exclude foreign matter and humidity; and that the shipping envelope — outer dimensions, center of gravity, and lifting points — be compatible with the selected transport mode (road, rail, sea, or air) and clearly marked with lifting points, center of gravity, and warning signs.
The transportation section calls for defining the mode and the responsible party, specifying impact limits and permissible tilting during handling, and, where required, installing shock recorders so that handling conditions can be verified after arrival.
4. Receiving Inspection, Storage, and Depreserving 📋
On arrival, the Standard directs the following sequence of activities:
- Receiving inspection: verify packing lists against shipping documents, check packaging integrity, seals, and shock records; document any damage with photographs and notify the carrier and manufacturer immediately.
- Storage: select indoor or outdoor locations according to the preservation duration and climate; outdoor-stored items should be raised, well-drained, and ventilated, with scheduled re-inspection of the preservation state.
- Depreserving: remove preservative coatings and inhibitors per manufacturer documents, clean and inspect machined surfaces, and re-protect any item not immediately installed.
💡 The specification should clearly state who re-preserves equipment stored beyond the preservation period, who bears the cost, and the maximum unprotected interval between depreserving and initial startup.
5. Installation, Prestart Checks, and Initial Startup 🛠️
The installation section addresses foundations and anchor bolts, alignment, piping connections, electrical and instrumentation wiring, and the integrated commissioning of auxiliary systems. Prestart checks should cover:
- Filling and leak checks of oil, water, and gas systems, with lubrication system flushing completed to acceptable cleanliness;
- Fuel system purge and leak testing, and functional verification of protection systems (overspeed, vibration, bearing temperature, flame detection, etc.);
- Electrical insulation, phase rotation, and grounding checks, and verification of control logic and alarm points;
- Verification of intake and exhaust path cleanliness, and step-by-step testing of interlock and trip circuits.
Initial startup follows the manufacturer’s prescribed sequence of cold crank, ignition, acceleration, warm-up, synchronization, and loading, with any anomalies recorded and resolved. Finally, a punch list is compiled to track outstanding items and defect rectification to closure, forming the basis for formal handover and the start of the warranty period.
6. Frequently Asked Questions ❓
❓ Q: Is B133.11 mandatory? What happens if it is not followed?
A: It is not a legal mandate but a procurement guideline. It becomes binding only when its clauses are incorporated into the contract specification; violations are then addressed under the contract.
A: It is not a legal mandate but a procurement guideline. It becomes binding only when its clauses are incorporated into the contract specification; violations are then addressed under the contract.
❓ Q: Why only 3 months of preservation for domestic shipments but 1 year for exports?
A: Export logistics take longer, pass through harsher climates, and offer fewer opportunities to renew preservation. The Standard defines minimum effective durations; longer storage requires an agreed inspection and re-preservation plan.
A: Export logistics take longer, pass through harsher climates, and offer fewer opportunities to renew preservation. The Standard defines minimum effective durations; longer storage requires an agreed inspection and re-preservation plan.
❓ Q: What is the purpose of the punch list?
A: It registers and tracks every deficiency and unfinished item found before and during startup until closure, and serves as a key document for formal handover, warranty commencement, and responsibility definition.
A: It registers and tracks every deficiency and unfinished item found before and during startup until closure, and serves as a key document for formal handover, warranty commencement, and responsibility definition.
🔍 Q: Turbine parts are found corroded after unpacking — who is liable?
A: Liability depends on whether preservation met the contractual standard, whether storage stayed within the preservation period, and whether transport records show abnormal handling — precisely why the Standard emphasizes defining inspection and evidence clauses at the contract stage.
A: Liability depends on whether preservation met the contractual standard, whether storage stayed within the preservation period, and whether transport records show abnormal handling — precisely why the Standard emphasizes defining inspection and evidence clauses at the contract stage.
